Cyrus Langhorne
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is out here speaking big facts. The popular sports entertainer has dished out his thoughts music mogul JAY-Z played a key role in Colin Kaepernick getting a shot at coming back to the NFL.
In a new “First Take” broadcast, Smith explained how JAY’s controversial decision to team up with the NFL last summer could easily be the reason the league is giving Kaep another chance.
“This is ‘league’ organized. Now to me the name that comes to my mind is JAY-Z and Roc Nation. Why? Because JAY-Z meets with Commissioner Roger Goodell. At that particular moment in time, he’s excoriated, all of a sudden, Hov, who everybody loved, a whole bunch of folks turned against him, accused him of selling out, turning in his black card and all of this ridiculous nonsense. And what did he say? He said, ‘Listen, folks are going to work behind the scenes.’ Called the NFL office, called the Players Association, spoke to a whole bunch of people, Kaepernick’s side, Roc Nation, the list goes on and on. Clearly there appears to be an effort that’s taking place to include these teams with league participation and league approval, obviously, so it appears to be something very, very serious and the only thing that can get in the way of Colin Kaepernick being back in the NFL is if he refuses to shut up and/or he goes out there and shows he can’t play.” (“First Take”)
The Internet has come to JAY’s defense months after people ripped Young Hov on teaming with the league.
Kaep went to social media Tuesday to break the news to fans about the league reaching out to his team about an Atlanta workout.
Kaepernick has missed the past few seasons following his publicized decision to peacefully protesting police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.
Kaepernick, 32, hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2016, after he began kneeling during pregame renditions of the national anthem as a means of protesting police brutality and racial inequality in America. While supporters have praised Kaepernick for drawing attention to important social issues, critics — including President Trump — have decried the protests as unpatriotic. Kaepernick rarely has spoken publicly since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers at the conclusion of the 2016 season, but those in his camp have maintained that he still wants to play — and has been working out constantly in an effort to do so. (USA Today)
Some media outlets have speculated about the workout possibly being an NFL PR opportunity.
Given that the league’s blackballing of Kaepernick remains obvious to anyone who’s watched the NFL this season, it seems plausible that the NFL decided it needed to at least make a show of offering Kaepernick an opportunity and that the quarterback has now called its bluff. Or it could be that after settling a collusion grievance with Kaepernick and fellow protester Eric Reid—who now plays for the Carolina Panthers—earlier this year, the league is finally ready to give the 32-year-old quarterback a real shot. (SLATE)
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